Pennsylvania is quickly expanding its footprint in the online gambling sector. The state recently welcomed WSOP, the esteemed online poker operator within the region. Although it is only a soft launch, the operator will make a full release on Friday.
WSOP made its soft launch on 12th July, which will be available till 15th July. The poker operator released an official tweet regarding the achievement, informing players about the launch and related details. The tweet mentioned that the soft launch would not be accessible outside business hours. Other than that, players cannot even log in or download the software.
Here are the official operational hours of the soft launch:
- Monday, 12th July: 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm ET
- Tuesday, 13th July: 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm ET
- Wednesday, 14th July: 12:00 pm t0 12:00 am ET
- Thursday, 15th July: To be announced
The site did not experience heavy traffic on the launch day. Around 9:15 pm, on 12th July, there were 43 players on the cash table. In comparison, the multi-table tournaments comprised 15-39 players.
WSOP is attracting new users with exclusive rewards and offers. New users can get 50 dollars in free play after creating a Pennsylvanian account and depositing 10 dollars. While players cannot withdraw the 50 dollars, they can use it to win on the platform. Players can withdraw any winnings generated through the initial reward without restrictions.
Additionally, the players will get seven tickets to get 100 dollars worth of freerolls. On 12th July, there were 70 entrants that drew the freeroll.
Small Issues in the Initial Phase
As is the pattern with most new releases, WSOP also faced minor issues on the first day. Around 7:30 pm, the website released a tweet stating they have noticed how users were facing troubles with deposits made through discover cards. To this, some users complained that the issues were also occurring for other methods. Being unable to use the phone support, the platform requested players to reach them via online chat or email support.
Currently, WSOP can be considered the third/fourth online poker operator in the state. The trend started with PokerStars launching in November 2019. The platform enjoyed monopoly till April 2021. After that, Borgata Poker and BetMGM Poker, the sister websites, entered Pennsylvania.
Since the platforms fall under the same network, users can count them as second and third poker rooms in Pennsylvania or merely the second. Depending on that, WSOP can be deemed the third or fourth Pennsylvanian online poker platform.
The reason behind WSOP’s popularity is its World Series promotions. However, the appeal will not be applicable for Pennsylvania as the state will not be participating in the series this time around. However, once the state enters an interstate compact, WSOP will witness quick growth in its popularity.
